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 DR. TINA ANDERSON
    President, Moultrie Technical College
    Hometown: Ellaville, Ga.
    Education: Doctorate in Educational
       Leadership, Georgia Southern
       University
    Family: Husband, Tony

s president of Moultrie Tech, I believe my mission is to leave no stone unturned when looking for opportunities to benefit our service area. We produce graduates that employers can believe in. Our faculty and staff believe in our mission, and continuous improvement is our constant goal.

For Moultrie Tech, this has been a period of tremendous change and growth. We have just completed some large-scale physical expansions. Now, we are adding new programs and studying possibilities for future programs.

We are very exited about our brand-new Moultrie campus, which opened in July. At 110,000 square feet, it’s a roomy campus fronted by a beautiful lake. Our Tifton campus is undergoing a major expansion that will triple its size, and that expansion should be complete in January 2004. That gives us five brick-and-mortar campuses for a four-county service area.

The added space gives us an opportunity to begin some great programs. This January, look for paramedic technology, early childhood education (Tifton campus) and commercial truck driving. We are in the planning stages for a program in surgical technology. In addition, we are studying potential expansions in our Allied Health program, CIS program, and Industrial Maintenance and Industrial Electronics programs. We are always seeking input from the community to determine their needs and how we can meet them.

Right now, we are strengthening community ties with a push to publicize information about the services that Moultrie Technical College can provide. This has been very exciting for me because it is about the prospect of getting new businesses to the area. We want to get the word out: Great people live and work in our service delivery area, and we have the ability to train the workforce.

DR. ROBERT ARNOLD
    President, Griffin Technical College
    Hometown: Dublin, Ga.
    Education: Doctorate in Education, University
         of Georgia
    Family: Wife, Tina, and children, Austin and Kayla

riffin Technical College is a world-class educational institution that empowers students, faculty and staff to realize their potential. As south Metro Atlanta continues to grow, the need for technical education becomes greater.

GTC is committed to meeting this challenge. Our mission is to support workforce development through education. We aim to provide quality training in the healthcare field and in technical education programs to support the manufacturing and service industries. Our collegiate culture exemplifies diversity and student well being. GTC’s management and leadership philosophy is defined by high ethical standards, open communication, teamwork, employee empowerment and continual assessment and improvement.

We’re very excited about our new 70,000-sq.-ft. Technology/Student Center, which enables us to offer new programs (plastics technology, printing and graphics technology, diesel technology) and expand others. The center will house our CIS programs, several technical programs, a state-of-the-art library/media resource center, and a full-service cafeteria and student center.

In the future, the Economic Development Division will expand partnerships with business, government and civic organizations. The division will be a leader in providing short-term customized training and assistance to support economic development.

We plan to embrace technology, enabling students and staff to access information within the college and around the globe. We will provide a communications infrastructure that will accommodate existing needs and provide a migration path for integrated voice, video and data transmission. This will enable GTC to expand online and Web-enhanced instruction. Seamless education is a major initiative.

Finally, we will seek additional resources for capital expansion projects, including a medical technology center and an economic development center; purchasing additional property; and renovating current facilities. At GTC, we aim high. Our objectives include — but certainly aren’t limited to — increased student access and enrollment, student retention, and high graduation and job placement rates.

Dr. Sanford Chandler
    President, Appalachian Technical College
    Hometown: Kilpatrick, Ala.
    Education: Doctorate in Occupational Education,
        University of Georgia
    Family: Wife, Desiree; and children, April, Amy,
        Alisia, Ray; and granddaughter, Kaitlyn

he up-and-coming technical college in Georgia” — that’s my vision for the future of Appalachian Technical College. To make it reality, we must expand our facilities, meet the needs of business and industry, and take our programs to the people.

Often, our students balance work and families with getting an education. Driving an additional 30 minutes to class sometimes prevents them from attending. Our concept is to bring education closer “to home,” make it more convenient. To that end, we want to build an additional campus in Cherokee County and establish several workforce development centers and online learning centers.

In January 2004, our first workforce development center opened in Epworth (Fannin County). Working with the community and the Development Authority there, we’ve refurbished an elementary school and offer on-site Management and Supervisory Development, Business and Computer programs, and at least one Health Occupations program. In addition, an online learning center gives students access to programs at the main campus, including an online associate’s degree in accounting.

To meet the needs of Cherokee County, one of the fastest-growing counties in the country, plans are on the drawing board for a Cherokee campus. Located in a new technology park called The Bluffs, this campus will provide the facilities needed to educate an anticipated high-tech workforce of 15,000 at the park.

Soon we plan to open a workforce development center in south Cherokee County that will provide space for incubating businesses, a customer service center and an online learning center. Here start-up businesses can lease space to train their workforce before moving into the technology park.

Appalachian Technical College is committed to providing the facilities, resources and staff necessary to move forward as “the up-and-coming technical college in Georgia.”

Dr. Flora Tydings
    President, Athens Technical College
    Hometown: Macon, Ga.
    Education: Doctorate in Education, University of Georgia
    Family: Children, Holly and Heather

t Athens Technical College, our guiding motto is “college to career.” We want to be known as the prime and preferred provider of workforce education to meet the economic development of our community. We want to be an integral player in the community and energize them to give us their time, talent and financial support.

In return, we’re constantly searching for new programs to fill community needs. We just completed a feasibility study on a law enforcement technology program, and we’ve had extremely positive results from the community. We discovered that in the next five years, there will be 468 career opportunities for graduates. Our plan is to have this program up and running by summer 2004. We’re in the process of doing a needs assessment study for two other programs: paramedic technology and carpentry.

There has been a tremendous growth in the hospitality and tourism industry in our service area, especially with the addition of the Ritz-Carlton at Lake Oconee. To that end, we’re anticipating the debut of our new Hospitality and Tourism program in spring 2004. Right now, we are in the process of hiring a program chair. We’re very excited that the Classic Center in Athens is our partner in this venture. They will provide classroom space and give us access to their kitchen facilities. The Classic Center has been a tremendous supporter of Athens Tech.

In addition, we are building a new 41,800-sq.-ft. business and information technology center. We expect it to be completed in fall 2004.

Our momentum has positive results: In fall 2003, we had our largest enrollment ever — 3,800 students, a five percent increase from last fall.

Dr. Daryl Gilley
    President, West Georgia Technical College
    Hometown: Chickamauga, Ga.
    Education: Doctorate in Education, University
       of Tennessee
    Family: Wife, Louise, and children, Marc and Erin

uring this first year, I’ve focused on three main areas. First, I asked the faculty and staff to examine our institution and think creatively, especially with regard to teaching and learning.

As a result, change is occurring. We’ve implemented a Writing Across the Curriculum program requiring all students to complete writing assignments. For example, a welding student now must write, even if it’s just a memo or short report. Business and industry consistently say they need graduates who are technically competent and able to think, communicate and solve problems. This initiative addresses this issue, and faculty members report that they already see improvement in the students’ ability to communicate.

Second, we remain a strong, reliable partner with local industry. We recently established new training programs with Goody’s Products, Guardian Automotive and Duracell USA. We’re also planning an educational program for BP/Amoco, which will be pilot-tested in January 2004.

Third, to ensure everyone in our service area (Troup, Heard and Meriwether counties) has access to West Georgia Technical College, we’ve established off-campus teaching sites in Franklin, Greenville and Manchester. Soon, we’ll have a site in West Point. We’ve more than doubled the number of online classes offered and we reach even more citizens via cable television. Our efforts have produced results: In 2002, enrollment grew by about 35 percent, and in 2003 it increased an additional 10 percent.

We hope to offer new programs in health science and creative technologies, and serve the training needs of the disabled in partnership with the Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation. We also plan to offer ESOL and citizenship classes on cable television.

West Georgia Technical College serves a vibrant, supportive community with a dedicated, professional staff. Thanks to them, this first year has been exciting and gratifying.

Dr. Glenn Deibert
    President, Swainsboro Technical College
    Hometown: Thomasville, Ga.
    Education: Doctorate in Education, Nova
       Southeastern University
    Family: Daughter, Miranda

y experience as a student, teacher and administrator in our educational system has helped shape my vision for our college. “Best Programs Under the Sun” is more than the theme of Swainsboro Technical College’s marketing campaign. It’s a plan of action that includes three areas of concentration: online education, a strong partnership with high schools and additional accreditation.

At STC we are focusing on workforce development by creating a skilled workforce that will allow employers to expand and grow. Our students prepare themselves to be excellent employees and business owners through our traditional classes, and now they have greater access to this knowledge through our flexible and affordable online education program.

We plan to pursue a collaborative effort with our local high schools to offer technical certificates of credit in business, health, personal services and technical areas of study. Not only does this give high school students college credit toward the program of their choice, but it also encourages them to strive for a technical education career.

Also, currently the Council on Occupational Education accredits STC. However, since the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools/Commission on Colleges (SACS-COC) accreditation is the recognized regional accrediting body in Southern states, we feel obtaining this additional accreditation will be beneficial. After all, the principal role of this accreditation is to develop standards that identify and encourage quality improvements in our college — improvements that are passed on to our stakeholders, the students.

It is my hope that all Swainsboro Technical College students, faculty and staff will embrace these opportunities for growth as we continue to strive to offer the “Best Programs Under the Sun.” We believe in the educational opportunities we offer, we believe in our students, and more importantly, we believe in creating a skilled workforce for Georgia and our nation.

Dr. Gene Waters
    President, Ogeechee Technical College
    Hometown: Savannah, Ga.
    Education: Doctorate in Philosophy, Georgia
       State University
    Family: Wife, Becky, and children, Josh and Jon

ith 19 AAT degrees, 40 diplomas and 47 certificates, Ogeechee Technical College provides numerous, diverse learning opportunities for its rural three-county service area. Having grown by 205 percent in nine years, we must now take stock of our progress to ensure that our focus remains true to our mission of workforce development. In this era of budget cuts, it behooves us to become more efficient and productive, focus on customer service, create new learning options and engage in new partnerships.

We will continue to expand program offerings, including online courses. Our focus will be on student learning, quality instruction and a physical environment conducive to learning. A Faculty Resources Center will provide much needed instructional resources. With some 27,000 square feet of costly modular units, new facilities are needed. A student learning resource center/classroom building and a facility for adult literacy are top priorities. We will partner with sister technical colleges to form collaboratives to meet students’ needs. Regional centers, governed by representatives from area technical colleges, will offer courses that will benefit the region cost-effectively. Ogeechee Tech will expand our recently developed relationship with Georgia Southern to enhance our efforts in student learning, faculty development and accreditation.

Ogeechee Tech will seek additional program accreditations and accreditation by SACS-COC. A new emphasis on extramural funding through grants and contracts will be undertaken. Our foundation will focus on special initiatives such as land acquisition, equipment and facilities, while our continuing education unit will provide new services and revenues. Ogeechee Technical College is successful because of the quality of the employees and an excellent partnership with the community. We will invest in our employees to ensure they have the skills and resources needed to excel, and we will develop new private-public relationships to move to a new level of delivering technical education.

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